# Norberto Téllez

Norberto Téllez Santana (born January 22, 1972, in Rodas, Cienfuegos) is a retired Cuban runner.

## Career

Originally a 400 metres runner who also enjoyed success in 4 x 400 metres relay, winning the silver medal at the 1992 Olympics, Téllez later converted to the 800 metres distance. At the 1996 Summer Olympics he ran in 1:42.85 and thereby improved the national record of Alberto Juantorena. However, this wasn't enough to secure a medal as he finished in fourth place. A silver medal from the 1997 World Championships was his best result thereafter.

## Major achievements

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Cuba ||||||
| 1990 | Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (U20) | Havana, Cuba | 2nd | 400 m | 47.22 |
| 1990 | Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (U20) | Havana, Cuba | 1st | 800 m | 1:50.08 |
| 1990 | Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (U20) | Havana, Cuba | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:09.48 |
| 1990 | World Junior Championships | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | 3rd | 800 m | 1:47.33 |
| 1990 | World Junior Championships | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | 12th (h) | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:10.49 |
| 1991 | Pan American Junior Championships | Kingston, Jamaica | 8th | 800 m | 1:56.72 |
| 1991 | Pan American Junior Championships | Kingston, Jamaica | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:09.19 |
| 1992 | Ibero-American Championships | Seville, Spain | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.58 |
| 1992 | Olympic Games | Barcelona, Spain | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 2:59.51 |
| 1992 | World Cup | Havana, Cuba | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.95$^1$ |
| 1993 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Cali, Colombia | 3rd | 400 m | 46.25 |
| 1993 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Cali, Colombia | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:02.58 |
| 1993 | World Championships | Stuttgart, Germany | 14th (sf) | 400 m | 46.17 |
| 1993 | World Championships | Stuttgart, Germany | 6th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:00.46 |
| 1993 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1st | 400 m | 45.80 |
| 1993 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Ponce, Puerto Rico | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:05.62 |
| 1994 | Goodwill Games | St. Petersburg, Russia | 7th | 400 m | 46.01 |
| 1994 | Goodwill Games | St. Petersburg, Russia | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.87 |
| 1994 | World Cup | London, United Kingdom | 5th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.28$^1$ |
| 1995 | Pan American Games | Mar del Plata, Argentina | 1st | 400 m | 45.38 |
| 1995 | Pan American Games | Mar del Plata, Argentina | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.53 |
| 1995 | World Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 15th (sf) | 400 m | 46.68 |
| 1995 | World Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 6th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:07.65 |
| 1996 | Ibero-American Championships | Medellín, Colombia | 1st | 800 m | 1:45.83 CR |
| 1996 | Ibero-American Championships | Medellín, Colombia | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.98 |
| 1996 | Olympic Games | Atlanta, United States | 4th | 800 m | 1:42.85 NR |
| 1997 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 1st | 800 m | 1:47.78 |
| 1997 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 2nd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:04.50 |
| 1997 | World Championships | Athens, Greece | 2nd | 800 m | 1:44.00 SB |
| 1997 | Universiade | Catania, Italy | 1st | 800 m | 1:47.63 |
| 1998 | Goodwill Games | Uniondale, United States | 2nd | 800 m | 1:45.92 |
| 1998 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Maracaibo, Venezuela | 1st | 800 m | 1:49.71 |
| 1998 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Maracaibo, Venezuela | 1st | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:03.18 |
| 1998 | World Cup | Johannesburg, South Africa | 3rd | 800 m | 1:48.92$^1$ |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships | Maebashi, Japan | 22nd (h) | 800 m | 1:52.38$^2$ |
| 1999 | Universiade | Palma, Spain | 1st | 800 m | 1:46.11 |
| 1999 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | 2nd | 800 m | 1:45.40 |
| 1999 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada | 4th | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.79 |
| 1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | 4th | 800 m | 1:45.03 |
| 2001 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Guatemala City, Guatemala | 1st | 800 m | 1:46.51 |
$^1$Representing the Americas $^2$Did not finish in the semifinals

## Personal bests

* 200 metres – 21.10 (1994)
* 400 metres – 45.27 (1994)
* 800 metres – 1:42.85 (1996)